386 



PROPAGATING FRUIT PLANTS 



will drop their leaves. It is well to store the tray in a cool 

 cellar for the winter. The plants may be given a permanent 

 position in the field in the spring. 



7. Propagating by Layers. Plants which do not propagate 

 readily by means of cuttings may sometimes be increased 

 readily by layerage. Layerage consists of the formation of 

 roots from a portion of the stem, but differs from cuttings in 

 that the roots and stems of the new plant are formed while it is 

 still attached to the old plant. The black raspberry cane bends 

 over as it attains full length, and the tip, if covered with 

 earth, roots readily and forms a new plant at that point 

 (Fig. 153D). 



Where the canes are long and can be laid over on the 

 ground, as in the grape, the covering of the nodes at various 

 points on the cane results in the production oi roots at the 

 nodes. Several new plants are thus secured from one cane. 

 The new plants may be severed from the parent just as soon 

 as the roots are well formed. This is usually done the follow- 

 ing spring when the plants are put in the field or nursery row. 

 Leave a portion of the old cane attached to each root to facili- 

 tate handling. New canes develop from the buds which form 

 at the crown of the new plant. 



Mound layerage is another method in addition to the use of 

 cuttings for propagating the gooseberry; it is also used with 

 the quince and Paradise apple. Cutting back the plants close 

 to the ground in the spring, leaving a few buds on each stem, 

 results in the production of vigorous new shoots. In . June 

 these shoots are mounded up with earth high enough to cover 

 the lower buds, the soil being worked in well about them. 

 Roots develop from the nodes. If sufficient growth has been 

 made by the following fall, the earth may be removed and the 

 new plants cut off and stored until spring, or they may be 

 planted in the field at once in southern sections. 



In the North, leave the plants attached until spring before 

 severing them. It may be necessary to leave them attached 

 through a second season. 



